Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Harvard (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Harvard. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Harvard is located in Wayne County.
To see how the shape of Iowa's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Wayne County: Appanoose, Decatur, Lucas, Mercer (MO) & Putnam (MO).
Below are the counties that are near Harvard. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Harvard:
- Wayne County (The home county of Harvard)
- The following are listed by their distance from Harvard, with the one closest to Harvard listed first.
- Corydon
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Allerton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Seymour
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Promise City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Hodge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Genoa
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Genoa is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Clio
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Millerton
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Millerton is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Millerton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 42 people
- Confidence
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
- Confidence is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Confidence
- Lineville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- Lineville is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 217 people
- Humeston
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Appanoose County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harvard, with the one closest to Harvard listed first.
- Jerome
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Jerome is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerome
- Plano
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
- Numa
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
- Numa is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Numa
- Population from the 2020 Census: 89 people
- Brazil
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
- Brazil is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brazil
- Cincinnati
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Cincinnati is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cincinnati
- Population from the 2020 Census: 345 people
- Mystic
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Mystic is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mystic
- Population from the 2020 Census: 410 people
- Sunshine
(18 miles [29 km] to the east)
- Sunshine is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunshine
- Walnut City
(18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
- Walnut City is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Walnut City
- Clarkdale
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Clarkdale is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clarkdale
- Centerville
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Rathbun
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Rathbun is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rathbun
- Population from the 2020 Census: 72 people
- Iconium
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northeast)
- Iconium is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Iconium
- Darbyville
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Darbyville is located in Appanoose County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Darbyville
- Clarke County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harvard, with the one closest to Harvard listed first.
- Woodburn
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
- Weldon
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the northwest)
- Weldon is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weldon
- Population from the 2020 Census: 104 people
- Green Bay ‑ Historic
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Green Bay is located in Clarke County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Green Bay
- Decatur County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harvard, with the one closest to Harvard listed first.
- Woodland
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
- Woodland is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodland
- Morgan
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the west)
- Morgan is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Morgan
- Garden Grove
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the northwest)
- Garden Grove is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Grove
- Population from the 2020 Census: 200 people
- Le Roy
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
- Le Roy is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Le Roy
- Population from the 2020 Census: 14 people
- Leon
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pleasanton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
- Pleasanton is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pleasanton
- Population from the 2020 Census: 44 people
- Davis City
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
- Davis City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Davis City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 187 people
- Decatur City
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
- Decatur City is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Decatur City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 181 people
- Van Wert
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Van Wert is located in Decatur County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Van Wert
- Population from the 2020 Census: 208 people
- Lucas County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harvard, with the one closest to Harvard listed first.
- Derby
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Derby is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Derby
- Population from the 2020 Census: 111 people
- Russell
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Zero
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Zero is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zero
- Chariton
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Lucas
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the northwest)
- Lucas is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucas
- Population from the 2020 Census: 207 people
- Olmitz
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Olmitz is located in Lucas County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Olmitz
- Williamson
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Harvard, with the one closest to Harvard listed first.
- Melrose
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
- Georgetown
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Georgetown is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgetown
- Mercer County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Harvard, with the one closest to Harvard listed first.
- South Lineville
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
- South Lineville is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for South Lineville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 27 people
- Mercer
(18 miles [29 km] to the southwest)
- Ravanna
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
- Ravanna is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravanna
- Princeton
(25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
- Burrows
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
- Burrows is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burrows
- Putnam County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Harvard, with the one closest to Harvard listed first.
- Powersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Powersville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Saint John
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saint John is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
- Lucerne
(15 miles [24.1 km] to the south)
- Lucerne is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucerne
- Population from the 2020 Census: 80 people
- Pearl City
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the east)
- Pearl City is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pearl City
- Unionville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the southeast)
- Mendota
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
- Mendota is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mendota
- Sullivan County (MO)
- The following are listed by their distance from Harvard, with the one closest to Harvard listed first.
- Newtown
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the south)
- Pollock
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Pollock is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pollock
- Population from the 2020 Census: 79 people
- Harris
(26 miles [41.8 km] to the south)
- Pennville
(28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
- Pennville is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pennville
- Boynton
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the south)
- Boynton is located in Sullivan County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boynton
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Harvard, see our County-by-County Page for Harvard.
Cemeteries Near Harvard ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Harvard.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Harvard - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Harvard covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Harvard, with the one closest to Harvard listed first.
- Shriver Cemetery
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Richardson Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
- Ripper Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Rankin Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
- Moss Sturgeon Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sharp Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Bollman Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)
- Thomas Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Hickerson Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
- Allerton Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
- Banta Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the south)
- Corydon Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Continue List (322 more) ...
- Harris Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Tharp Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Hazel Dell Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Harvard had a post office and railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Harvard, with the one closest to Harvard listed first.
- Sewal
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
- Sewal is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sewal
- Bridgeport
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Bridgeport is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bridgeport
- Corydon
(5 miles [8 km] to the northwest)
- Allerton
(5 miles [8 km] to the west)
- Seymour
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
- Promise City
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
- Promise City is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Promise City
- Population from the 2020 Census: 110 people
- Hodge
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Hodge is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hodge
- Powersville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Powersville is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Powersville
- Population from the 2020 Census: 54 people
- Clio
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Clio is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Clio
- Population from the 2020 Census: 73 people
- Genoa
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Genoa is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Genoa
- Saxon
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Saxon is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saxon
- Ovia
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- Ovia is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ovia
- Continue List (15 more) ...
- Saint John
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the southeast)
- Saint John is located in Putnam County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Saint John
- New York
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the north)
- New York is located in Wayne County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New York
- Cleopatra
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Cleopatra is located in Mercer County (MO)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleopatra
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Harvard. See our List of 1890's Communities around Harvard.
Newspapers Published in Harvard ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 122 newspapers that have been published in the area around Harvard.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Harvard, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Harvard.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Harvard:
- Websites specific to Iowa
- Pages specific to Wayne County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Appanoose County
- Clarke County
- Decatur County
- Lucas County
- Monroe County
- Mercer County
- Putnam County
- Sullivan County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Iowa
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <3> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Harvard, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Harvard) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |